Educational Activities Archives

This activity focuses on the foundational components of Motivational Interviewing and how this approach fits into a client centered approach to care. Participants learn how to apply motivational interviewing skills within a pain management framework.

This activity reviews the body’s normal response to stress and also introduces two brief behavioral exercises to aid in stress reduction and present-focused awareness. Patient explanations for both exercises are provided, as are brief experiential exercises. Sample scripts for clinician use are also included. Finally, a synopsis of the evidence for these exercises is reviewed. In short, the two techniques have evidence for moderate benefit, sometimes short-term only, and no evidence for increased risk of harm. They benefit from being brief, easy to teach, portable, and skills-based (thus skills practice likely increases potential for benefit).

Developed by AAAP and ASAM, this guideline focuses on the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with stimulant use disorder, stimulant intoxication, and stimulant withdrawal.

As we enhance our understanding of addiction medicine through research, we strive to improve the treatment outcomes for our patients. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) at its core is an effective combination treatment because although medication is extremely beneficial in the treatment of addictions, for many patients it is not sufficient to maintain recovery because it does not address the behavioral aspects of the disease of addiction. This module provides basic information on 4 Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) that effectively treat the behavioral aspects of the disease of addiction. This module includes examples of techniques that may be performed during medication management and/or longer counseling visits with patients.

Health professionals are often trained in “motivational interviewing” (MI), a way of encouraging patients struggling with substance abuse to make positive changes in their lives. Family and friends of people struggling from opioid use disorder (OUD) can also use these simple methods of talking to their loved ones about making changes, seeking treatment, and staying on track for recovery.

Medication-assisted treatment is widely accepted treatment for patients with opioid use disorders. Still, patients have many reasons, spoken and unspoken, to be reluctant to start this potentially life-saving treatment. On this episode, Ashley Braun-Gabelman, PhD, discusses the importance of addressing this resistance and why it’s important to explore this barrier to treatment head on.